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Tag: unlawful
‘Unlawful DEI-motivated’ discrimination in the workplace to be rooted out by Trump’s new acting EEOC chair
President Donald Trump’s pick to serve as acting chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) vowed to make rooting out illegal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices in the workplace a priority, she said.
“Consistent with the President’s Executive Orders and priorities, my priorities will include rooting out unlawful DEI-motivated race and sex discrimination; protecting American workers from anti-American national origin discrimination; defending the biological and binary reality of sex and related rights, including women’s rights to single-sex spaces at work; protecting workers from religious bias and harassment, including antisemitism; and remedying other areas of recent under-enforcement,” Andrea Lucas said in a press release provided to Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
Lucas was appointed to the EEOC as a commissioner in 2020 under the first Trump administration and has served in the role since. The EEOC is the federal government’s only agency authorized to investigate and sue private companies and employers over employment discrimination.
“I am honored to be chosen by President Trump to lead the EEOC, our nation’s premier civil rights agency enforcing federal employment anti-discrimination laws,” Lucas said of her appointment. “I look forward to restoring evenhanded enforcement of employment civil rights laws for all Americans. In recent years, this agency has remained silent in the face of multiple forms of widespread, overt discrimination.”
President Donald Trump’s pick to serve as acting chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Andrea Lucas, right, vowed to make rooting out illegal DEI practices in the workplace a priority (Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images)
Trump signed a bevy of executive actions and orders on Monday after he was sworn in as the nation’s 47th president, including ones related to diversity, equity and inclusion, better known as DEI programs.
“The Biden Administration forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI), into virtually all aspects of the Federal Government, in areas ranging from airline safety to the military,” Trump’s executive order on ending “radical and wasteful” DEI programs states. “This was a concerted effort stemming from President Biden’s first day in office.”
“That ends today,” the executive order reads. “Americans deserve a government committed to serving every person with equal dignity and respect, and to expending precious taxpayer resources only on making America great.”
EEOC COMMISSIONER RESPONDS TO SUPREME COURT RULING AGAINST RACE-BASED COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
President Donald Trump signed a bevy of executive actions and orders on Jan. 20, 2025, after he was sworn in as the nation’s 47th president, including ones related to DEI. (JIM WATSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Lucas echoed Trump’s views on DEI programs within the federal government and beyond in her statement Tuesday, championing that the nation “must reject the twin lies of identity politics.”
TRUMP PRAISED FOR EXECUTIVE ACTIONS ON BORDER, DEI, ENERGY: ‘COMMON SENSE DAY IN AMERICA’
“Our employment civil rights laws are a matter of individual rights,” Lucas said. “We must reject the twin lies of identity politics: that justice is measured by group outcomes and that civil rights exist solely to remedy harms against certain groups.”
“The Biden Administration forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion,’” Trump’s executive order on ending “radical and wasteful” DEI programs states. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
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“I intend to dispel the notion that only the ‘right sort of’ charging party is welcome through our doors and to reinforce instead the fundamental belief enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and our civil rights laws—that all people are ‘created equal.’ I am committed to ensuring equal justice under the law and to focusing on equal opportunity, merit, and colorblind equality.”
In a move aimed at combating unlawful discrimination in the workplace, President Trump has appointed a new acting chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) who has vowed to root out DEI-motivated discrimination.The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information in the workplace. However, there has been a growing concern about discrimination based on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in recent years.
The new acting chair of the EEOC, appointed by President Trump, has promised to prioritize investigating and prosecuting cases of unlawful DEI-motivated discrimination. This includes discrimination against employees who advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace, as well as discrimination against employees based on their race, gender, or other protected characteristics.
The acting chair has stated that they will work closely with employers to ensure that they are in compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws and will take swift action against those who engage in unlawful discrimination. They have also emphasized the importance of creating a workplace culture that is inclusive and welcoming to all employees, regardless of their background or beliefs.
With the new acting chair at the helm, the EEOC is poised to take a strong stance against unlawful DEI-motivated discrimination in the workplace. Employers should be on notice that discriminatory practices will not be tolerated, and that the EEOC will take action to protect the rights of all employees.
Tags:
- DEI discrimination
- Workplace discrimination
- Trump EEOC chair
- Unlawful discrimination
- EEOC enforcement
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Workplace equality
- Trump administration
- EEOC initiatives
- Employment discrimination
#Unlawful #DEImotivated #discrimination #workplace #rooted #Trumps #acting #EEOC #chair
US Court Files Civil Complaint Alleging Walgreens Dispensed Millions of Unlawful Prescriptions
The US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois filed a civil complaint on January 16, 2025, leading to the Justice Department alleging that Walgreens Boots Alliance, Walgreen Co, and various subsidiaries dispensed millions of unlawful prescriptions in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. Walgreens then allegedly sought reimbursement for many of the prescriptions, in violation of the False Claims Act, according to a news release from the US Department of Justice.
Walgreens, Opioids, Controlled Substance Act, False Claims Act | Image Credit: Timon | stock.adobe.com
“This lawsuit seeks to hold Walgreens accountable for the many years that it failed to meet its obligations when dispensing dangerous opioids and other drugs,” Brian M. Boynton, JD, principal deputy assistant attorney general and head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, said in the news release. “Our complaint alleges that Walgreens pharmacists filled millions of controlled substance prescriptions with clear red flags that indicated the prescriptions were highly likely to be unlawful, and that Walgreens systematically pressured its pharmacists to fill prescriptions, including controlled substance prescriptions, without taking the time needed to confirm their validity. These practices allowed millions of opioid pills and other controlled substances to flow illegally out of Walgreens stores.”
The department alleges that from approximately August 2012 through the present, “Walgreens knowingly filled millions of prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose, were not valid, and/or were not issued in the usual course of professional practice.” This included allegedly filling prescriptions for dangerous and excessive quantities, early refills, and a dangerous and abused combination of medications known as the “trinity”—an opioid, a benzodiazepine, and a muscle relaxant. The complaint alleges that Walgreens pharmacists filled the prescriptions despite clear “red flags” indicating that filling the prescription would be highly likely to be unlawful and that Walgreens allegedly pressured its pharmacists to fill prescriptions quickly without taking time to confirm the validity. The department also alleges that Walgreens deprived pharmacists of crucial information, according to the news release.
“As alleged in the complaint, Walgreens continually disregarded its obligations under the Controlled Substances Act and False Claims Act by illegally dispensing powerful controlled substances and unlawfully seeking reimbursement from federal health care programs,” Morris Pasqual, JD, acting US attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said in the news release. “These laws are critically important in protecting our communities from the dangers of the opioid epidemic. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that opioids are properly dispensed and that taxpayer funds are only spent on legitimate pharmacy claims.”
Furthermore, the department alleges that Walgreen’s actions fueled the opioid crisis and, in some instances, lead to patient deaths due to overdosing on opioids shortly after the alleged filling of unlawful prescriptions. If found liable, Walgreens could face civil penalties of up to $80,850 for each prescription filled in violation as well as treble damages and penalties for each prescription paid by the federal programs. Additionally, the court could award injunctive relief to prevent Walgreens from committing any other violations to the 2 acts.
“Pharmacies play a critical role in ensuring that only lawful controlled substance prescriptions are dispensed—Walgreens failed to do just that,” Erek Barron, JD, US Attorney for the District of Maryland, said in the news release. “We are committed to holding Walgreens accountable for its role in the opioid epidemic that has devastated communities across the country, including in Maryland.”
REFERENCE
Justice Department files nationwide lawsuit alleging Walgreens knowingly filled millions of prescriptions that lacked a legitimate medical purpose. News release. US Department of Justice. January 17, 2025. Accessed January 20, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-files-nationwide-lawsuit-alleging-walgreens-knowingly-filled-millions
In a recent development, the US Court has filed a civil complaint against Walgreens, alleging that the pharmacy chain dispensed millions of unlawful prescriptions. The complaint accuses Walgreens of failing to properly monitor and report suspicious orders of prescription drugs, contributing to the opioid crisis in the country.The complaint alleges that Walgreens dispensed more than 30 million doses of oxycodone and hydrocodone to its Florida stores between 2006 and 2014, despite numerous red flags indicating potential diversion of these drugs for illicit purposes. The pharmacy chain is also accused of failing to report suspicious orders to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as required by law.
This legal action highlights the role that pharmacies play in the opioid epidemic and the importance of strict oversight and compliance with regulations. It serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact that the improper dispensing of prescription drugs can have on individuals and communities.
As the case unfolds, it will be important to monitor the outcome and the potential implications for Walgreens and other pharmacy chains. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
Tags:
- US Court
- Civil Complaint
- Allegations
- Walgreens
- Dispensed
- Unlawful Prescriptions
- Lawsuit
- Pharmaceutical
- Legal proceedings
- Healthcare industry.
#Court #Files #Civil #Complaint #Alleging #Walgreens #Dispensed #Millions #Unlawful #Prescriptions
US appeals court rules DACA unlawful ahead of Trump inauguration – JURIST
A federal US appeals court on Friday held that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) violated US immigration law.
The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld a district court’s decision to block the DACA program, finding it to be unlawfully created. The court emphasized that since Congress had deliberately excluded DACA recipients from the nation’s comprehensive immigration and naturalization framework, “Congress’s rigorous classification scheme forecloses the contrary scheme in the DACA memorandum.” The panel noted that no party has claimed that either the US Supreme Court or an en banc Fifth Circuit court has issued a contrary ruling, nor has Congress amended the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
The court also stated: “Because Texas is the only plaintiff that has demonstrated or even attempted to demonstrate an actual injury, and because that injury is fully redressable by a geographically limited injunction, we narrow the scope of the injunction to Texas.”
In 2022, a panel of Fifth Circuit judges upheld a district court’s decision that held the DACA program illegal. The court prevented individuals from applying to the program but allowed current beneficiaries to renew their status. The panel allowed a stay issued by the lower court to remain in place, keeping the program temporarily alive.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established DACA in 2012 under then-President Barack Obama’s leadership. The program allows certain individuals who immigrated to the US as children, known as “Dreamers,” to request work authorization and deferred action of their removal from the country. Dreamers have also qualified for in-state tuition rates, health care, and other benefits programs. The DHS published a final rule on the matter in 2022, aiming to preserve DACA amid legal challenges against the policy.
The court’s decision came just three days before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, raising uncertainty over the future status of Dreamers under his administration. During Trump’s first term in office, he claimed the policy was illegal and announced his plans to end DACA. The US Supreme Court blocked that effort, but only on procedural grounds, leaving the policy’s fate hanging in the balance.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton celebrated Friday’s ruling, stating:
This is a win for Texas. I am pleased the Fifth Circuit found that the Biden Administration’s DACA policy was unlawful … I look forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump to ensure that the rule of law is restored, and the illegal immigration crisis is finally stopped.
The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is unlawful, just days before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. The decision comes as a blow to the Obama administration’s efforts to protect undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children from deportation.The court’s ruling is a victory for Texas and 25 other states that challenged the legality of DACA, arguing that President Obama overstepped his authority in implementing the program through executive action. The judges agreed, stating that DACA violates the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.
The fate of DACA now rests in the hands of the incoming Trump administration, which has promised to crack down on illegal immigration and undo many of Obama’s executive actions on immigration. Trump has not yet announced his plans for DACA, but the court’s ruling could provide him with a legal basis to terminate the program.
Immigrant rights advocates have condemned the court’s decision, warning that ending DACA would put hundreds of thousands of young immigrants at risk of deportation. They are calling on Trump to uphold the program and protect the rights of DACA recipients.
As the Trump administration prepares to take office, the future of DACA remains uncertain. The court’s ruling adds to the uncertainty surrounding the program and raises questions about the fate of young undocumented immigrants in the US.
Tags:
- US appeals court ruling on DACA
- Trump inauguration and DACA ruling
- DACA legality ruling by US appeals court
- Immigration news: DACA ruled unlawful
- Trump administration and DACA court decision
- Legal update: DACA ruling before Trump’s term
- US appeals court decision on DACA legality
- DACA ruling and Trump inauguration
- Immigration law update: DACA ruled unlawful
- JURIST analysis of DACA legality ruling
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